A router is a device which allows other devices, such as computers, to communicate with each other across a network, or networks.

A wireless router is exactly the same device, except it has the capability to transmit and receive data using wireless technology, omitting the need for cabling between the router and a wireless enabled device, such as a laptop computer.

The router is placed at a junction between two or more networks, or between different segments of the same network. Each network or segment can be using a different topology or protocol to the one it communicates with.

The router will intercept and forward any data packets passing through, most routers can be set up to block certain types of data packets, which can be useful for security reasons.

The destination address of the data packet needs to be included within the header information, routers don't propogate broadcasts/multicasts.

The router will then decide the best route for transferring the data packet to its destination, it achieves this by interrogating a routing table, which can be either static, or dynamically generated.

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